James Coleman
Favorite Quotes
The Gift of Our Wounds by Arno Michaelis and Pardeep Singh Kaleka
“I explained to Pardeep that the only way out of the quagmire of racial prejudice was practice. [...] The more we practice something, the more natural it becomes. It was no different with hate. [...] The antidote was getting people to practice loving kindness, I said”(15).
Everyone has heard the saying “practice makes perfect”. People understand the idea that it takes practice to become good at something or to change one’s habits. This universal understanding is what I think inspired the writers to use it to challenge their readers and show them that everyone is capable of kindness and love. There is no excuse for hate and every reason to practice kindness in our daily lives.
“See something; say something. That was my motto when it came to prejudice. [...] Dr. King got it right when he wrote, ‘Nothing in this world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity’”(192).
This sentence reminded me of a discussion that we had in AP about perpetrators and bystanders. We addressed the idea that bystanders are just as dangerous as perpetrators because if they are not helping, they are hurting. Ignorance is dangerous and can hurt people. “See something; say something” is a challenge to the readers to address issues when they see them and take a stand for what they believe in.
Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich
"Dear Evan Hansen, [...] Today is going to be a good day, and here's why. [...] Because today, no matter what else, you're you. No hiding. No lying. Just you. And that's enough"(333).
I wonder how much happier the world could be if everyone chose to start their day like this and use the reasons to actually make each day great. People seem to be inherently pessimistic by my observation, which makes sense because there are many difficult things occuring in the world. But, I am an inherently optimistic person and therefore appreciate this approach.
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency
by Alexander McCall Smith
“Talking about pumpkins doesn't make them grow”(85).
This quote leaves the connotation of the pumpkin up to the reader and makes them infer that talk really does not solve anything. Instead, one must take action in order to see a problem or situations through to the end. Mma Ramotswe is exactly the kind of down to earth woman that I would expect to hear this kind of advice from, and it is something that everyone needs to hear because there is way too much talk and not enough action in our society today.
Where Men Win Glory
by Jon Krakauer
“Many decisions are made in our lifetime, most relatively insignificant while others life altering”(174).
Each person makes thousands of decisions every day. Many are small and seem very insignificant, but others can be very important. I think that people must be conscious of each decision that they make because you never know how big of an effect it will have. It could be as simple as choosing what to eat, or as important as choosing a college or career. Decisions make up each day of our lives, and in order to pursue our dreams and passions, we must ensure we make the right ones.
Educated
by Tara Westover
“The wind is just wind. You can withstand these gusts on the ground, so you can withstand them in the air. There is no difference. Except the difference you make in your head”(237).
If people could simply convince themselves that they are capable of more than they believe then I think that the world would be a better place. There are so many missed opportunities each day, and they are missed because the person is scared to fail. I think if we can take Westover’s words to heart and realize that challenges are only challenges and fear is only fear, then we will be able to overcome and move forward confidently.
A Long Way Gone
by Ishmael Beah
"We must strive to be like the moon"(16).
I love this idea of being like the moon. I think that it leaves room for interpretation because each person will understand it differently. To me, being like the moon means being calm and unique. It means being a light in the darkness and being there when people need me. To Ishmael Beah, I think it meant simply making people happy and being his own person. This quote is so simple and yet is so meaningful and wise. I wonder what our world would be like if more people tried to be like the moon?
Photo used under Creative Commons from Michel_Rathwell